Spring washer



May 23, 1939. F. R. MCCRUDDEN SPRING WASHER Filed Sept." 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR FREDERICK R. Mcfinunnam.

ATTORNEYS May 23, 1939.

F. R. MCCRUDDEN 2,159,393

SPRING WASHER Filed Sept. 10, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill '9 xkdlu INVENTOR FREDERggK R. McERunnzN.

v- Mm ATTORNEY5' Patented May 23, 1939 I 2,159,393

- N TE-o STATES PATENT OFFICEI' SPRING WASHER Frederick R. McCrudden, Bloomfield, N. J., assignor to The National Lock Washer Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 10, 1936, Serial No. 100,078 I 1 Claim. (Cl. 151-38) I The present invention relates to an improve- Fig. 11 is a plan view of the structure as shown ment in spring washers, and has for an object in g. ,to provide a spring washer formed of very thin Fig. 12 is a top plan view of a modified form of metal having corrugations or flutes pressed there- Washer Similar to t S ow in Figs- 7 t0 in, which in the engaged and compressed relation but split. 5 0fthe' ashe r ith crew head, n t r th like Similar reference characters indicate correare ironed out producing tension and friction p g p s throughout the Several figures o between the screw head, nut or the like and the the drawings. structure engaged thereby to effectively retain Referring to the drawings and more particu- "fo the screw head or nut against turning and ly to Figs. 1 to 5 thereof, the spring washer I0 -looseness.- According to one embodiment of the is formed of a y thin metal, which o e invention I propose to provide a spring of this p ng will be in the former a substantially character which may be engaged in a counterfleet ring, d S P d t its lower extremity sinkopening togibe compressed between such w th a r ular ed e H y n in a horizontal p a ll opening and the tapered head of a screw. Acand at its upper extremity with a corrugated edge cording to another embodiment I propose to pro- Which in e e p y e odiment is Sinuvid a spring washer which may be engaged ously curved, the side wall of the washer between tween the flat surfaces of a screw head or nut and the Points of t e co t ons and the lower edge a fiat structure engaged thereby I I having a ridge-like bend l4 inclined upwardly wit t above and other object in View, and outwardly while the bends l5 between the 20 bodiments of the invention are shown in the acpoints extend from the lower e I I to the upper companying drawings and these embodiments edge 12 along lines at considerably smaller il be hereinafter more fully described with r fangles to the central axis of the washer than the erence thereto and the invention will be finally bends apered corrugations or flutes are pointed out in the claim. thus provided in the side walls. 25

In the drawings; In producing the washer it is first pressed into Fig 1 is a side elevation f a Spring washer shape in a suitable metal die to form the corruaccording to my invention, and adapted for engmons flutes Prior to ea treatment. the

gagement in a countersink opening washer then being heat treated to produce the Fig 2 is a top plain view thereof necessary temper to render it springy. 30

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the washer taken As Show m 3 the Washer 15 adapted to along the line ,33 of Fig. 2, and showing the i g in fg g the conicail angle same engaged in a countersink structure, also 0 W c 1s consl em y 9 the axis than the. angle of the outwardly Inclined bends l4 shown in vertical section. th 1 w A i ul d N f th h Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the screw eni 61 g m i? e 0 g er seating 35 aged with the countersink and the washer comy an con muous y upon 9 countersmk pressed. near its lower edge and the upper corrugated edge Fig.5 is a p View of the structure as Shown l2 1n the uncompressed state being above the in Fig 4 upper edge of the countersink to a suflicient de- 40 pi I 61 a Ian View of a modified form of gree than whenthe washer is compressed the 40 waslfer, s imi l i to that shown in Figs. 1 to 5, edge Wm contlguous to the upper. edge but apereii l fie a c l l i engged i if th 00 1131 l f 1s a side elevfmon of a modlfied form of and as it is tightened through screwing int t l ie l h Washer, accordmg to the inventlon, adapted threaded part I 9 the spring washer is ironed out 45 for nsert on between h Surfacesthrough the camming action of the conical screw Fig. 8 is a top pla V eW thereofhead, the lower circular edge H remaining in 9 s a Sectlenel View Of the Washer taken place while the washer above this edge is pressed along th line 9- of d sh wi the into relation with the countersink surface.

same engaged upon a flat apertured Structure, In the compressed relation of the spring wash- 50 also shown in vertical section. er as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 there will be slight Fig. 10 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 9 and corrugations remaining in the washer exerting showing the bolt and nut engaged with the aperfrictional pressure under spring reaction against ture of the structure, the washer being comthe surfaces of the countersink and the screw 7 pressed, head, thus effectively retaining the screw against 56 turning and looseness. While the washer is entirely effective in its functioning the very thin metal from which it is formed permits it to engage between the countersink and the screw head without leaving a large space between the countersink and the screw head. Also the exceedingly thin metal permits considerable flexure when a load is applied.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a modification in which the washer is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 5, but is provided with a split 20 along one of its bends l5.

In Figs. '7 to 12 I have shown a modified form of washer ll! similar in general structure to the washer shown in Figs. 1 to 5, but considerably flatter, and adapted for engagement between flat surfaces as distinguished from the conical surfaces engaged by the washer shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the washer H) being provided with a circular lower edge Il corrugated upper edge I2 and bends I and l in its side wall. As shown in Figs. 9 to 11 the washer Ill is engaged about the bolt hole 2| of a structure 22 having a flat top, the bolt hole being engaged by a bolt 23 having a nut 24 screwed thereon. The washer is compressed between the flat lower surface of the nut 24 and the flat upper surface of the structure 22, being ironed out through the tightening action of the nut to an approximately flat shape, so that its slightly corrugated and tensioned structure frictionally engages the flat surfaces under spring reaction and prevents turning and loosening of the nut.

In Fig. 12 I have shown a modification in which the washer is similar to that shown in Figs. 7 to 11, but is provided with a split 20 along one of its bends I5.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of the invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A spring washer, for interposition between a screw head or the like and a surface surrounding a screw receiving hole, comprising a ring of normally flat thin pliable spring metal having bends alternately projecting upwardly and downwardly along radial lines, the bending starting at the inner edge of said ring and gradually increasing to the outer edge, whereby said inner edge is in a flat plane and circular and said outer edge is undulating and of the same lineal extent as the outer edge of the normally fiat ring, said bends being in continuously straight lines between said inner and outer edges, said inner edge of the ring adapted to seat upon said hole surrounding surface to constitute a fulcrum line about which the inwardly and outwardly rojecte-d surfaces of the bends respectively move into straight line engagement with the surface of said screw head andsaid hole surrounding surface, and said inner edge being of the same diameter and circular shape in both the flat and bent conditions of said washer.

FREDERICK R. MCCRUDDEN. 

